Body Mind Therapy Centre are having an open day for Maggie's Centres on Thursday, 3rd August 2017. You can have 15, 30, 45 or 60 MIN MASSAGE in exchange for what you can afford donations. Their will also be a raffle draw with some amazing prizes

THE Civic Mayor of Tameside, Cllr Joyce Bowerman, is lending her wholehearted support to a drive to recruit more Marie Curie supporters in Tameside.

Marie Curie provides home care for people with any terminal illness as well as emotional support for their loved ones. Their aim is to help families get the most from the time they have left.

Cllr Bowerman explained: “I have personal experience of the wonderful work the Marie Curie nurses do. They cared for my father when he was dying from lung cancer and that’s why I have made them part of my charity appeal fund.

“It’s a very sad fact that someone in the UK dies every five minutes without getting all the care they could have. That’s why I want more fund-raisers in Tameside. Marie Curie believe everyone should be able to get the care they need at the end of their life.”

Marie Curie nurses work night and day and there is also a confidential helpline for anyone who has questions about any aspect of terminal illness, needs support, or just wants to talk. An online information hub has leaflets to download, films and other links.

The support groups are made up of ordinary people of all ages who are passionate about the charity and want to help it. They tend to meet on a monthly basis and organise collections and fund-raising events such as tea parties and quiz nights.

Tameside has two very successful groups – Hyde and Denton, and Ashton – but a combination of age, failing health and other commitments means that new members are needed if they are to continue their good work.

The Mayor added: “These amazing people have done, and continue to do, a really fantastic job. However, they aren’t as young as they used to be and can no longer commit themselves in the same way.

“They badly need new blood and I’m appealing to the people of Tameside to join them so that they can continue their fabulous and much-needed work.”

If you have the time and would like to join a Marie Curie support group, visit www.mariecurie.org.uk

WILLOW Wood Hopice is already close to the hearts of the Tameside community. But now it has also won the royal seal of approval after being recognised with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The accolade is the equivalent in status for voluntary groups as an MBE is for individuals and is the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK .

It is fantastic recognition for the 500 plus volunteers who devote themselves to providing care for patients and their families and generating the £2.3m that is required each year to keep the hospice operational.

In recognition of the award and their continued efforts, a number of volunteers were invited by Tameside Mayor Cllr Philip Fitzpatrick to the Mayor's Parlour in Dukinfield Town Hall on Tuesday 21 June. The Council is also highlighting all the local Queen's Award winners as part of its ongoing Proud Tameside campaign, which aims to put the spotlight on people, services and places which help to improve the lives of local people.

Hospice Chairman Pat McCloskey said “Everyone at the Hospice is absolutely delighted to hear the news that our volunteers have been recognised in this way - it is a huge honour that reflects the significant contribution made by all of our volunteers.

“Our volunteers are a vital and essential link in the chain of care we provide at Willow Wood and without their unwavering support we simply would not be able to care for the thousands of local patients and their families who need our support.

“The generosity and commitment of our volunteers continues to astound me and they are truly remarkable people.”

Chief Executive, Karen Houlston said: “We are extremely proud of this recognition and enormously proud of our volunteers and we are delighted that they have been honoured with this award.

“Since we first opened our doors in1999 so many people have given their time to enable us to provide our vital services within the local community and our volunteers have been at the very heart of Willow Wood. This award is for those volunteers who are no longer with us as well as our current volunteers.”

Willow Wood has achieved many milestones since it opened 17 years ago and has played an active role at the forefront of many new and exciting developments in palliative (Hospice) care.

In the last 12 months the hospice has launched a dedicated Dementia service to those with palliative care needs and will be implementing a new end of life service for those with Diabetes in the near future. These new services, along with the Hydrotherapy / physiotherapy service, the Lymphodema clinic and dedicated Blood transfusion clinic all complement the traditional Day Hospice care and the Inpatients Unit.

The Out Patients clinic, for those living with cancer and non cancer diagnoses, including neurological conditions such as heart and lung failure, kidney disease, multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease, saw in excess of 230 patients alone in the last year.

Do you have what it takes to tackle the Tour of Tameside challenge? The four day event gives runners five choices that challenge varied abilities. Lace up your trainers and fundraise for Tameside 4 Good to improve lives in Tameside.

THE Civic Mayor of Tameside’s charity golf day turned out to be glorious in every way. Played at Denton Golf Club on a beautiful spring day, it raised £637.85 for the Mayor’s charity appeal.

First place was taken by the Dane Bank Hackers who included Tameside Council’s head of environmental operations and greenspace, Nick Sayers. The Swingers came second, followed by New Charter Housing Trust.

Other teams included Q Bros (featuring the executive leader of Tameside Council, Cllr Kieran Quinn, and his brothers Patrick, Paul and Bernard); Royal Denton, who included the captain, president and lady captain from Denton Golf Club; and Denton Golf Club Junior All Stars who were sponsored by Tameside Council’s project lead for sport, Cllr Dawson Lane.

The Civic Mayor, Cllr Vincent Ricci, said: “It was a wonderful day and really couldn’t have gone better. The weather was wonderful.

“I would like to thank all the teams who took part and helped us to raise almost £700, and Denton Golf Club for hosting the event.”